The Devil In You

Mistress

Suggested listening: David Bowie - Heroes

The following weeks passed in a heartbeat, with the other two knowing each other, exploring each other and their newborn relationship... which still didn't have an official name. They were just living in the moment, trying to savor every second of their time together, when Jin didn't have to stay at the Mishima Zaibatsu quarters to take care of business, which Hwoarang still hated more than anything, especially now that it stole time from the two of them.

-Jin, I was wondering, why do we always have to meet at my dirty place when you literally own a skyscraper? It doesn't make much sense when you come to think of it.

-I have a guard at every door at the Zaibatsu building. If you like having any intimacy, that place is the last you'd go to, trust me on that.

-But you have a freaking Jacuzzi there! Here I have roaches as roommates!

Jin laughed, shaking his head.

-Listen, if you want to go to another place, I can rent a condo or whatever you'd like, wherever you'd like. You know I can. We could have a place all of our own.

-Yeah, and then I'd be your mistress, hidden away from the world. I feel uncomfortable, Kazama.

-Stop calling me... ah, whatever. Anyway, I'm just brainstorming, follow me a little. You're not my mistress and you wouldn't be hidden away from the world, it would just be ideal to have some privacy and stop the old lady from below your apartment from hitting the ceiling with a broom anytime we do anything here in your house.

Hwoarang smirked, -But then how would I know when I'm doing good?- he threw a pillow at Jin. -Your idea isn't stupid, I'll give you that. But there's no way you'd be paying alone for it. You might be richer, well, enormously richer than me, but I still have some pride, as you may well now. I wouldn't feel like a mistress then. Oh, and by the way, if I'm not your mistress... what am I to you? We never really discussed this, and I think we're way past the archenemies part.

There was a moment of silence, then Jin said -What would you like to be?

-No no no, Kazama, you don't get to answer my question with another question. I asked for something specific. I want to know what I am to you.

Silence, again.

-Oh, great. Didn't think this was so difficult to answer. Makes me wonder.

-Don't overthink it, Hwoarang. You're my first long-term relationship... I just have a hard time putting feeling into thoughts and thoughts into words. I'm not used to... this.

The Korean, who was still laying on the sofa, hugged Jin, sitting on its border, from behind.

-Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. How many serious relationships do you think I've had? Only flings and flirts and nothing else. That's why I'm so nervous. I want to know it's real... for the both of us.

-It is. So, I guess that makes you... my boyfriend. Doesn't it?

Hwoarang hugged Jin a little tighter at the word.

-Yeah, I guess it does. And I also guess it does make me happy to hear it.

He kissed the Japanese on the cheek, sweetly.

-My boyfriend. I should start being jealous and smack down people who look at you too lustfully, but then again the major part of them would be women, and I wouldn't feel good beating women. You robbed me of my jealousy, therefore you'll have to pay somehow.

Hwoarang started tickling Jin and hitting him with a pillow, and that was pretty much all they did for the rest of their morning.

//

At lunch, the condo conversation went on.

-I feel like we should look for something really outside of Tokyo, maybe near some woods or something. Think about it: in the middle of nowhere, fresh air, all the space we could desire outside. What do you think?

-I think we both move by bike and something too distant and without roads could be inconvenient. Maybe something in the middle between Tokyo and utter nowhere? Listen, I know you love the woods because they remind you of your mother, Jin, but we also have to weigh in how we live now and what is we do today. You'd still have to take care of the Zaibatsu business, and my dojang is in the middle of Tokyo, I need to train - and so do you.

Jin sighed -You're right, my dojo is also at the Zaibatsu. Halfway it is. I'll start looking for places then, so we can visit the ones we seem to like most. I bet we can find the perfect spot in a month, top.

-Look at you, all fired up. You're adorable. But we already knew that. We being me and the lady downstairs. Listen, that doesn't mean I will let this apartment go, by now.

-Why not? You could live in the new place, a better place, and you wouldn't be paying two rents that way. It doesn't make sense.

-Jin... everything is going great, and we've been seeing each other for what, a couple months now? I'm not saying something has to go wrong, but if it does... I'd be left with no place to go, and no money to search for a new flea-ridden apartment. Let us be a solid thing for a little while longer, then I'll get rid of this place. Okay? One step at a time. I know you're positive thinking, or at least more than me, but we're moving fast, and it's okay. But let me keep my Plan B for a while. No offense.

-None taken. You're right. Maybe we should wait for the condo as well...

-No, time is ripe for that. I basically brought that conversation up, remember? And I want my Jacuzzi, doesn't matter how much it's going to cost.

-Jacuzzi it is, then. And I offer to pay three quarters of the rent, because of my economical supremacy over you, Hwoarang. I won't take no for an answer.

-Economical supremacy? Are you fucking serious Kazama? I'll destroy you!

And there was no dojo nor dojang needed for the fight that followed, except, maybe, a new table.